These
signs were proposed at a development session of the F.I.R.S.T. Foundation trustees
and advisors.

The main issue behind the proposed signs was safety

As
you will know, many of our marae have kohanga reo, kura kaupapa or homework
centres associated with them. Others have sports grounds nearby. As a consequence,
there are children from toddlers to teenagers there almost every day. Keeping
them inside the marae boundaries is not always possible, as some go home for
lunch, others cross the roadway to get to cars or horses or to chase their footballs
and for other legitimate reasons. As we are aware, with children, enthusiasm
often replaces caution and safe patterns of behaviour.

Likewise when tangihanga, poukai or other hui are held, the capacity of marae
grounds to hold all parked vehicles is insufficient, and they overflow onto
and park along the surrounding roadways. Especially at tangihanga, people walk
to and from their cars and buses in both daylight and after dark, crossing
or walking along the roadway. Buses
are often parked in places which severely restrict drivers' vision. To add to
the danger, the old people usually wear black or dark coloured clothing.

Our marae are social centres where activities involving the locals occur almost
every day, but increasingly they are used by school groups especially of primary
school age. Their presence adds to the potential dangerous mix of motorised
traffic and pedestrians.

There is no doubt that marae constitute potential traffic hazards for both motorists
and pedestrians and should be suitable marked.

The second issue is one of identificationIn many regions of the country, such as near Tauranga, other parts of the
Bay of Plenty, The Far North and Kaikohe, Rotorua, Otorohanga, Gisborne and
Ruatoria, there are many marae within short distances of each other. Around
Gisborne and Kaitaia as good examples, there are more than a dozen marae within
eight kilometres of these town centres. Visitors, especially those from outside
the region, often do not know which is which. Currently some marae have small
AA directional signs but these are generally placed high up on power poles and
are difficult to see, especially at night. Clearer road signs such as those
depicted will not only warn both motorists and pedestrians that marae constitute
potential traffic hazards, but with the supplementary sign designating
the marae by name, they will assist in identifying which marae is which, and
help to reduce the number of lost or confused travellers.

The third issue is cultural identityOur country's distinctiveness is based not on its scenery, its relatively
open spaces or its green pastoral image, but on the presence of its Tangata
Whenua. According to tourist surveys, Maori are a major attraction for tourists,
whether they are low-cost, low-spending backpackers, middle-range tourist groups
or high spending independent
travellers. If tourists want to experience open spaces we cannot compete with
nearby Australia. If they want to see rain forests, clear water, coastal or
mountain scenery there are dozens of other places vying for tourists that have
scenery as stunning as we can offer. What is distinct about Aotearoa is us,
Te Iwi Maori.

Compared to a generation ago, Maori has become a valuable part of our schooling
system. At both primary and secondary level, Maori is a valued and informative
part of the curriculum. Almost all secondary schools offer Maori language as
an option, and at primary and intermediate schools te reo me ona tikanga is
embedded in the curriculum. As their children learn about their Maori neighbours
and fellow citizens so more
and more adult New Zealanders (Kiwis), are beginning to appreciate the importance
of Maori society, culture and values to Aotearoa, with increasing numbers of
them attend Maori language and tikanga classes. This welcome change in direction
in our public education system means that an increasing proportion of the next
generation will have an
understanding and deeper appreciation of Maori and our part in comtemporary
and future New Zealand, and a greater realisation that our past has been ethnocentric
and Anglophile at the expense of Maori, Pacific and other cultures.

Fourthly, this is a matter of tino rangatiratanga
To retain a view of the value of Maori culture as haka parties in tourist hotel
concerts or to tourist signs noting the presence of marae like other tourist
attractions such as herb gardens or antique shops, is to devalue it and work
against the trends in education. The marae is the centre piece of every hapu's
identity, it is their primary home, the nexus of their pride as a people and
kin-group and their last remaining turangawaewae (place to stand tall)

Marae should be properly marked. They are important cultural centers for the
one-in-six of the national population who identify as Maori and for the one
in four of the population who are Maori, plus their in-laws. To Maori, appropriate
signage is a matter of ethnic and national pride, it is also a matter of tino
rangatiratanga , besides being a matter of traffic safety.

UPDATE
ON 31 March 2004

Transit
NZ is the authorizing body for signage on all State Highways. For all other roads,
other than state highways the approving authority is the Territorial Local
Council (City or District Councils). To ensure that the authorizing body does not
object to this proposed sign and removes it you should seek their approval before
erection.

Some
local authorities have already given approval for this signage on local roads
within their jurisdiction. For example signs will be erected at marae in the
Waikato with LTA approval ( see sign in situ at
Waahi Paa). Discussion with some other local authorities are
currently underway

If
you would like further assistance on this matter such as help with an approach
to your district council please do not hesitate to contact us.